Tractor turning mechanism



W.'B. CHENOWETH. TRACTOR TURNING MECHANISM. APPLICATION men JULY 29. ms.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

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W. B. CHENOWETH. IRACTOR TURNING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. I9I8.

Patented Feb. 17,1920. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2' 14 B. CHE/VOWETH J TTOIUVE)Application filed July 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. OHENO- WETH, a citizen of the UnitedStates residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TractorTurning Mechanism, of is a specification.

This invention relates to new, and useful improvements in turningmehanisms for tractors.

The particular aim of the invention is the production of a tractor whichwill be capable of making a turn at any angle up to a right angle andwhich includes means for locking one of the driving ground wheels agamstrevolution whereb it becomes a pivot point for an arc in which the otherwheel travels.

In carrying out the invention elements are provided which when broughtinto use will produce a braking action on the ground wheel which isselected thus locking the same against revolution. This is carried outin connection with a trailer unit which is supported on a trailer wheelwhich may be locked against lateral adjustment. It is proposed toarrange the the braking action" is e ected the trailer wheel may befreed so as to swing laterally and permit the trailer unit toparticipate in the short turn. It is proposed to construct the turningmechanism also so that it may be used as a brake if desired.

e invention will be more readily understood from a readingof thefollow1ng speciaccompanymg drawings, in which an example of theinvention is illustrated, and wherein- 'Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa tractor equipped with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view on i the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

F 1g. 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the adjusting lever mechanisms, and

. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the trailer wheel lock.

This application forms a companion case to an application filed July 1,1918, Ser. No.

242,834, relating to the tractor which is Specification of LettersPatent.

which the following arts so that when v Patented Feb.17,1820. 1918.Serial No. 247,311.

4 for the wheels 2 are supported between the beams 3 and the 'frame 1and connected to these parts. The rear ends of the beams 3 terminateflush with the rear end of the frame 1 and these spaced apart by a plate5. On the forward portion of the frame 1 a suitable motor 6 togetherwith its usual accessories is mounted. This motor is connected with aclutch and transmission structure 7 which is supported on cross beams 8and short longitudinal bars 9 which latter are carried by the beams 8. Afuel oil tank 10 is supported on the beams 9. A worm gear mechanism 11is connected with the transmission and imparts motion to a transversedrive shaft 12 which is housed and supported in bearings 13 at each sideof the frame 1. The shaft 12 carries at eachend a pinion 14 which mesheswith a large gear 15 secured to the adjacent ground wheel 2. Thisdescribes in a eneral way the driving mechanism of the riving un1t andno claim is made to the particular structure of the motor transmissionand driving elements as they may be selected om a wide range ofmanufacture.

At the center of the driving or motor unit is mounted a trunnion block16 having its trunnion or pivot members in vertical alinement. Thisblock is bolted to the plate 5 and has its extremities'fitting in a yoke17 directed rearwardly therefrom and pivoted thereto. The yoke forms aconnectmg end of a trailer unit which includes a longitu dinalrearwardly extending beam 18 preferably. formed of spaced channel irons19 with their straight sides adjacent. The yoke is secured between theforward ends of the channel irons while a turn table 20 is mounted atthe rear ends of the same and provides means for attachment of atrailer, machine or implement.

\ A large gear segment 21, having its center coincident with the pivotpoints of the trunnion block and yoke, is fastened to the plate partsare connected and 27 in convenient 'at an angle to the 5 and piojectsover the beam 18. A pinion 22 mounted on a support 23 meshes with thesegment 21 and is operated by a worm gearing mechanism 24, wh1chhasconnection by means of a universaljomt25 with a steering shaft 26carrying a steermg wheel relation to a drivers seat 28. When the steerinwheel is revolved the pinion 22 is rotate and travels on the segment 21which is adjacent to the trailer unit laterally whereb the beam .18extends ongitudinal center of the tractor.

The beam 18 is su ported by a follower or trailer wheel 29 whic ismounted in a yoke 30 which has a pivot stud 31 extending up through abearin block 33 disposed between the channe s 19 and secured thereto bybolts 34. The stud 31 projects above the beam 18 and carries a lockingsector 35 which projects forward. A latch 36 is pivoted in a bracket 37which is mounted on the beam 18. The latch 36 normally engages in theteeth of the sector 35 and locks the same against rotation whereby thewheel 29 is. locked against lateral adjustment.

It will be seen that when the sector 35 is locked so as to hold thewheel parallel with the beam 18 said beam will trail behind the drivingunit and follow the same. It is obvious that the line .of draft of thewheels 2 and 29 will be parallel and the adjustment of the beam will bemaintained. Tools or implements attached to the beam may be operated oneither side of the tractor or even laterally with the ground wheels 2.

A controlling stand 40 is mounted on a transverse bar 41 supported onthe beam. The stand 40 supports the controlling elements for the motorand the drivingunit. Bars 44, 45 and 46 are disposed in superposedorder, as shown in Fig. 1. Below these are similar bars 47 and 48 whichare opposite each other. Each of the bars has telescopin thereinto ashank which I have designate by the numerals 44, 45, '46, 47 and 48respectively. The shank 44 has jointed connection 'with a rod 44 whichis suitably connected with the throttle of the motor 6. The shank 45' arod 45 which is connected with the clutch mechanism in a suitablemanner. shank 46 is connected with a rod 46 which is suitably connectedwith the transmission mechanism 7. The shanks 47 and 48' are connectedrespectively to laterally bent rods 47* and 48 i The rods 47 a and 48control mechanisms which while individual and separate are duplicatesand a description of one will suffice for both. The rod 47 hasconnection with a lever 49. A horizontal rock shaft 51 is mounted underthe frame 1 .and the lever 49 is fixed to its inner end. -An upstandingarm 52 is fixed on the shaft 51 and is pivis connected with The 1vmounted on the inner end ofl'a shaft 55 which carries a brake expandingmember 56 on its outer end. The member 56- is disposed within the gear.and has pivoted to diametrically opposite points the inner ends of links57 which are pivoted at their outer ends to brake shoes 58 suspendedfrom brackets 59 mounted on the outside of the frame 1. The shoes whenspread apart or forced outward by the expander 56 engage the innerperiphery of the gear 15 and fasten the wheel 2 against revolution, itbeing understood that the wheel has the usual pawl and ratchetconnection with its axle as ,1s mechanism is used for making short andsquare turns. It will be seen that if one of the wheels is lockedagainst revolution and the trailer member swung to the limit of itslateral adjustment the locked wheel becomes a pivot point of an arcuatepath traveled by the other wheel in making a square turn. The bar 44 isprovided with teeth which en-' gage in a keeper 60 on top of the stand40;

while the bar 46 is provided with teethen- 45 is pivoted to the upperend of an arm 62 connected with a clutch lever 63 pivoted in a common inthis art. This braking.

hanger 64. Each upright of the stand carries a rearwardly' projectinglocking segment 65 and a lever 66 each of which has a depending arm 67from which a chain 68 extends to the latch 36. Each lever 66 also has anintegral depending arm 69. One of the arms 69 has connection with therear end of the bar 47, and the other arm 69 has connection with therear end of the bar 48. By pulling either lever upward the bar connectedtherewith is pulled rearward and at the same time one of the chains 68is pulled whereby the latch 36 is swung out of the sector 35' so that inmaking a short turn the wheel 29 may trail properly. It will be noted-asindicated in Fig. 5 that the lever 67 is adjustable and could be pointedeither up or down. The stand 40 and its base 41 are adjustablelongitudinally of the beam 18, and for this reason telescoping shanksare provided in order that the connections may be lengthened orshortened. A supporting standard 70 is mounted on the yoke 17 and suports the rods which are jointed to the sha s.

It will be seen that if the driver wishes to make .a turn he reachesdown and grasps one of the levers 66 on the side of which he laterally.The

, may be left in the rods 47 the the shaft 51 and swings the partsconnected thereto as hereinbefore described, so that the expander 56 isrocked. By this means the parts 57 are pushed in opposite directions sothat the shoes 58 are tightly engaged with the inner surface of the gear15 thus looking the respective wheel 2 against revolution, en the lever66 was swung up the arm 67 attached thereto was also swung So that oneof the chains 68 was pulled so as to swing the latch 36 out ofengagement with the sector 35. By usin the chains either lever can beoperated without affecting the other. When the sector is released theyoke 30 and ground wheel 29 are free to swing driver by means of thesteering gear adjusts the trailer unit so that it swings at an acuteangle to the driving unit and the trailer wheel adjusts itself to an arcin harmony with the arc traveled by the free ground wheel of the drivingunit. It isv obvious that a very short turn may be made and the unplowedground reduced to a minlmum.

By pulling up both levers wheels may be locked against revolution sothat an efiicient brake is had. When the levers are lowered the movementof the parts is reversed, the brakes released and the latch free toengage'the sector. Sufficient slack and 48 and their connections so thata slight upward movement of either lever 66 will disengage the latch 36without applying the brakes.

The levers 66 may be used to steer the tractor instead of the steeringwheel and A very slight application of the brake will lock the selectedwheel which becomes idle through the difi'erential and the other wheelstill being under power will begin to turn. When the tractor has beenturned .to the desired point the wheel may be released an astraight-course taken.

What I claim is:

1. In a tractor turning mechanism, a driving unit, a trailer unitpivoted to the driving unit, a swivelly-journaled caster wheel carriedby the trailer unit and normally locked to travel in a orward path,means for unlocking the caster wheel when the driving unit is turned,and means for turning the trailer unit on the driving unit.

2; In a tractor turning mechanism, a driving unit mounted on groundwheels, a trailer unit pivoted to the rear of the driving unit, aswivelly-journaled caster wheel on said trailer unit normally lockedtotravel in a forward path, a difi'erential mounted on the driving unit,individual driving connectionsbetween the differential and the groundwheels, brake members carried on ground wheels, brake shoesv engagingthe brake members, and means for unlocktion, means 66 both ground ingsaid caster wheel and at the same time operating the brake shoes of onewheel separately from those of the other wheel.

3. In a tractor turning mechanism, the combination with a driving unitmounted on ground wheels, of a trailer unit connected. to the drivingunit and having a trailer wheel, an individual braking device for. eachground wheel whereby each ground wheel may be separately locked againstrevolumounted on the trailer unit for individually operating the brakindevices, and means for locking the trai er wheel against lateraladjustment arranged to be released when one of the ground wheels islocked against revolution.

4. In a tractor turning mechanism, the combination with a driving unitmounted on ground wheels, of a trailer unit connected to the drivingunit and having a trailer wheel, an individual braking device for eachground wheel whereby each ground wheel may beseparately locked againstrevolution, means mounted on the trailer unit for individually operatingthe braking devices, and} means for normally locking the trailer wheelagainst lateral adjustment connected with the braking device operatingmeans so as to be operated thereby to free the trailer wheel.

5. In a tractor turning mechanism, a driving unit mounted on groundwheels, a motor for turning said wheels, a difl'erential between themotor and wheels, brake means to lock either wheel separately againstrotation, a trailer unit pivoted to said driving unit, a caster wheelswivelly journaled on said trailer unit, a latch for locking said casterwheel to travel in a forward path, brake-operating means on the trailerunit, and flexible connections between said brakeoperating means andsaid latch for releasing the latter when the brake means is applied toeither ground wheel.

In a tractor turning mechanism, a driving unit mounted on ground wheels,3, trailer unit pivoted to the rear of the driving unit, a motor forturning the wheels, a differential between the motor and wheels, brakemeans to lock either wheel separately against rotation, a caster wheelswivellyjournaled on said trailer unit, a notched part turning with saidcaster wheel, a pivoted latch normally in engagement with said notchedpart to hold the caster wheel from swiveling, a pair of levers on saidtrailer unit separately connected to control the individual brake means,flexible connections between said levers and said latch, and means forswinging the trailer unit about the driving unit.

WILLIAM B. GHENO'WETH.

